Author: Rowan Clarke

Declan Rice has been named England’s vice-captain for the World Cup, with manager Thomas Tuchel confirming the Arsenal midfielder’s role after Saturday’s friendly win over New Zealand. Rice, 27, has earned 72 caps for the Three Lions and is set to be one of the most experienced players in Tuchel’s starting line-up throughout the tournament. The midfielder arrives at the training camp in fine form, having just helped Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Rice also featured in Arsenal’s Champions League final last weekend, which the north London club ultimately lost on penalties…

Denmark’s Football Association has confirmed Christian Eriksen is conscious after collapsing during the national side’s friendly match against Ukraine. The incident brought play to a halt in the 65th minute, with the game subsequently abandoned following the alarming scenes on the pitch. Eriksen, aged 34, was able to walk from the field under his own power, offering an immediate source of relief to players, staff, and spectators present at the match. The former Manchester United and Tottenham midfielder had been fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator following a cardiac arrest he suffered at Euro 2020 in 2021. That earlier episode…

Iran’s 2026 Fifa World Cup squad has landed in Mexico as a deepening dispute over visas and stadium access continues to overshadow the tournament’s build-up. The team touched down in Tijuana early on Sunday morning local time, having relocated their training base from the American city of Tucson, Arizona, in late May. All three of Iran’s group stage fixtures are scheduled to take place on US soil, but players and support staff have been restricted to flying in and out of the country on match days only. Iran has confirmed that 15 officials and support staff have been denied US…

Argentina defended their status as 2022 World Cup champions with a comfortable 2-0 win over Honduras, though star man Lionel Messi was absent from the squad. The 38-year-old has not featured since being substituted with “muscle fatigue” in his left hamstring while playing for Inter Miami on 24 May. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had said Messi was “doing well” but opted against risking the six-time Ballon d’Or winner in the match played in Texas. Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty and Giuliano Simeone added a second as Scaloni’s side cruised to victory without their talisman. Argentina face Iceland on 9 June…

On 20 August 2003, a narrow 1-0 win over Kazakhstan in the small northern Portuguese town of Chaves launched one of football’s most extraordinary international careers. The match was played in front of just 8,000 fans on a pitch so poor that the grass had to be painted to look presentable before kick-off. Nobody watching that night could have predicted that the teenage debutant would go on to appear at a record sixth World Cup in 2026, alongside Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Mexico’s Guillermo Ochoa. Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41, is the all-time leading scorer in international football with 143 goals…

Both England and Scotland picked up encouraging wins on American soil as the two nations continue their preparations for the World Cup. England’s victory was described as more of a training session than a competitive match, raising questions about how much Thomas Tuchel’s side truly learned from the outing. The heat in the United States remains a significant concern, with analysts discussing how long it will take both squads to properly adapt to the demanding conditions. Scotland, however, produced a more commanding performance, scoring four goals in the first half alone to put their opponents to the sword in impressive…

Scotland produced a patient, precise and clinical display to beat Bolivia 4-0 in sweltering conditions at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey. The temperature hit 32.7 degrees on the day, prompting an air quality alert from New Jersey’s department of environmental protection, classified as Code Orange. Bolivia were expected to handle the heat, given they play home fixtures in Tarija at 6,000 feet above sea level and in El Alto at 13,600 feet above sea level. They had beaten Chile last June and Brazil last September in El Alto, suggesting the thin air and extreme conditions hold no fear…

Wales manager Craig Bellamy has admitted his side must perform significantly better after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Romania in Bucharest. Goals from Florinel Coman and Adrian Rus sandwiched a David Brooks strike as Romania ran out winners at Stadionul Steaua. The result handed Gheorghe Hagi his first victory since being appointed as Romania head coach back in April. Wales extended their unwanted record of failing to win an away friendly since 2008, a run that continues to frustrate Bellamy. Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Wales boss did not attempt to disguise his frustration with the performance. “Disappointing,”…

Brighton have agreed a deal worth £21.5m to sign winger Zadok Yohanna from Swedish club AIK Stockholm. The 18-year-old Nigerian winger will join the Seagulls on a five-year contract once the summer transfer window officially opens on Monday, 15 June. Yohanna came through the Ikon Allah Football Academy in Nigeria before making the move to AIK Stockholm. The teenager made his debut for the Swedish club in August 2025 and has made a strong impression in his first season of senior football. Yohanna has contributed five goals and four assists in 18 appearances for AIK Stockholm, a return that has…

Ireland came away from Canada with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in an international friendly played at Saputo Stadium in Montreal. Chiedozie Ogbene was the hero for the Republic of Ireland, netting a second-half equaliser to cancel out Canada’s opener and secure a share of the spoils. The World Cup co-hosts had taken the lead through a Jake O’Brien own goal, with Stephen Eustaquio’s corner flicked on before the ball deflected off the Irish defender and into the net. Jesse Marsch’s Canada side looked comfortable heading into half-time, with O’Brien also making a vital block on Liam Millar to protect their…